An important part of a healthy lifestyle that often gets overlooked is mental health. Mental health is our state of mental well-being that enables us to cope with the stressors of life. Mental health is important for making decisions, building relationships, and shaping our world. When life is busy, stress and feeling overwhelmed can lead to poor mental health. Managing stress is important to your physical health too. Mental and physical health are closely related and can often impact each other. For example, poor mental health is a risk factor for many chronic conditions, and people with chronic conditions are at risk for having poor mental health.
There are many strategies for coping with and managing stress. It is important to try several different strategies and do what works best for you. Some examples for stress management include meditation, stretching, yoga, maintaining social relationships, getting enough sleep, or journaling. Getting enough physical activity, as discussed above, is also a great way to relieve stress. The most important thing is to make sure you are taking some time for yourself, even if it is just a few minutes, to prioritize your mental health.
Nutrition, physical activity, and mental health are all important aspects of health that can be affected when life is busy and stressful. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle does not have to be something that you only do when you feel like you have the time. Incorporating small sustainable changes into your life and making them healthy habits will ensure that you can maintain the lifestyle you want no matter how busy life gets. Remember that even doing a little bit goes a long way. For more information about physical activity or nutrition, please refer to the other blogs in this series: “Fit and Busy” and “Busy Body, Healthy Plate.”
Quick Healthy Habits for Coping with Stress:
Journaling– Journaling can help you work through your thought processes on paper, and it can take as little as 5 minutes a day.
Physical Activity– Exercising is not only helpful for physical health, but also provides mental benefits as well, such as reduced stress and improved mood. Taking a 10-minute walk can be a great way to destress in between responsibilities.
Meditating- Meditation can be a quick way to relax the physical stress on your body. Deep breathing for a few minutes can help release tension and clear the mind. For more information see: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/meditation/.
“Unplugging”– In the digital age, it can sometimes feel like work is never ending. A great way to combat this is to mute work notifications outside of working hours.
Taking a small amount of time out of the day to focus on mental health is a small commitment with a large return, as mental health affects all aspects of living. Find a strategy that works for you and your life. Remember that small steps can go a long way to improve your stress levels
References:
- Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Connection Between Mental and Physical Health. CMHA Ontario. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/connection-between-mental-and-physical-health/
- Mahanna, C., & McFall, D. (2020, June 2). Coping with Stress and Mental Health. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/coping-with-stress-and-mental-health/
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, August 3). Stress relievers: Tips to tame stress. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257
- Reid Health. (n.d.). The connection between stress, busyness, and mental health. Reid Health. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://www.reidhealth.org/blog/the-connection-between-stress-busyness-and-mental-health
- World Health Organization. (2022, June 17). Mental health. World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved January 27, 2025, from http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
Authors:
- Danielle McFall, Rural Health and Nutrition, Extension Associate
- Laurel Taylor, UPIC Intern, Rural Health and Nutrition
- Isabella D’Gracia, Public Health Science Intern, Rural Health and Nutrition
- Isabelle Fetting, UPIC Intern, Rural Health and Nutrition
